kathanayakudu Balu (Jagapati Babu) is a barber in a remote village. He is a straight-forth man with honesty. He has an understanding wife (Meena) and three kids. Ashok Kumar (Rajnikanth) – the superstar of film industry – is his childhood friend. But Balu loses touch with Ashok after he becomes an actor. The unit of Ashok's latest film comes to the village of Balu for a cinema shoot. Balu's family members and village men ask Balu to take them to Ashok. But Balu is such a kind of guy who does not want to ask favors. The rest of the story is all about how the honest Balu and raging superstar meet.

Artists Performance :

kathanayakudu Rajnikant: Rajnikant mesmerizes you again with his 60-minute screen presence in this film. He is super stylish in the various costumes (Mask of the Zorro, Lawrence of Arabia etc) donned in two songs of the film. He also has a very sensible part in the film where he tries to explain the mindset of an actor and superstar. SP Balu who usually dubs for Kamal Hassan dubbed for Rajnikant in this film.

kathanayakuduJagapati Babu: Jagapati Babu came up with one of the finest performances of his career. This role demands a tremendous histrionics from the actor in Jagapati Babu and he does a wonderful job. His get-up is also good. But one wonders why he has light beard though he is doing the role of barber.

Others: Meena is apt as the wife of Jagapati Babu. Nayana Tara sizzles as film heroine paired with Rajnikant. Dharmavarapu entertains. Sunil's escapades in second half are good, especially his expressions while ogling at Nayana Tara. Ali is alright. Brahmanandam is wasted. The comedy of MS Narayana and Kondavalasa does not appeal.